PHQ-9
Also written as: PHQ-9 — Patient Health Questionnaire-9
A nine-question screening tool for depression severity used in psychiatric assessment and documentation.
Full Definition
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a widely used, validated screening instrument for depression that corresponds to DSM-5-TR criteria for major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 generates both a depression severity score (0-27) and can suggest a provisional diagnosis. It is commonly referenced in psychiatric documentation, research, and clinical guidelines. Editors should ensure proper hyphenation and understand that scores are typically reported with interpretation (minimal, mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe depression).
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate PHQ-9 and include the numeric designation to distinguish from other PHQ versions.
In Context
- "The patient's PHQ-9 score of 18 indicates moderately severe depression." — Clinical assessment documentation
- "PHQ-9 screening should be conducted at regular intervals during treatment." — Clinical practice protocol